Nutmeg: Prices down due to weak demand & Increase in production
August 16, 2017 at 9:46 AM ,
Rainbow Exports
Nutmeg prices down due to weak demand & production has increased.
Due to better production and sluggish demand of Nutmeg makes Kerala producers unhappy. Nutmeg farmers have once again increased strongly income like natural rubber, but now both of these crops are not able to give them a strong return.
In the year 2016-17, nutmeg exports increased 25% compared to the previous year. Total exports were 5070 tonnes, the value of this export is US$37 million. In India, nutmeg yields came down heavily with nutmeg increasing. It is said that nutmeg is used in sweets and meats all over the world.
China's largest buyer of Indian nutmeg last year, but this year China's demand is sluggish due to our high levels prices. The price of Indian nutmeg is $7,200 per tonne, which is higher than $500 in comparison to Indonesian nutmeg. The decline in international demand and the weak support from the domestic market has come down to the price of nutmeg. The average price of nutmeg is running US$5470 per mt. which was US$7810 per mt. last year. A few years ago, the price of nutmeg had reached 15625 per mt., due to heavy tightening in the entire world. Producers say that the price of US$5470 per mt. is not even the cost of nutmeg producing.
Traders say that after the GST is implemented in the country, demand in North India's nutmeg is very weak. Generally, in North India's festive season, there is a better demand in nutmeg. There is confusion about GST on nutmeg. Because of this, the businessmen have left behind their purchases. However, it has been made clear that this will apply to five percent GST. Apart from this, the second issue of non-receipt of input tax credit on nutmeg is in front of businessmen and exporters.
Kerala's share of nutmeg production in India is 50% and it produces around 14000 tonnes of nutmeg. Apart from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are the main producing states of nutmeg. Businessmen say that nutmeg is sold in a large quantity from Kerala by illegal means. If the officials bend it and pay GST, then the prices of nutmeg can be increased.
5 Years’ Production, Exports and Imports of Nutmeg
Year |
The production in MT. |
Export MT. |
Import MT. |
2012-13 |
12730 |
3231 |
720 |
2013-14 |
12730 |
4450 |
800 |
2014-15 |
14400 |
4475 |
325 |
2015-16 |
15170 |
4050 |
490 |
2016-17 |
15460 |
5070 |
340 |